The governor, therefore, asked the state House of Assembly to give the budget realistic scrutiny before approval, as he praised the House for passing into law all the Public Financial Management law which had been pending before the House for six years.

He said: “The 2018 budget is designed to achieve stability, fiscal reprioritization and consolidation to create the base for sustainable growth and development.

“It is focused on reversing the growth of debt, unsustainable deficits and the burden of interest payments which is almost unsustainable.

“The 2018 budget estimates will focus on rebuilding the state’s economy through prioritized investment on infrastructural facility and agriculture-related activities.”